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Palpal Brewery Co. announced on April 9 that it snagged two top honors at the 2026 Korea Liquor Awards.
The company said its flagship releases, Hard Potion and Apgujeong Makgeolli Won (元), took the grand prize in the takju (traditional unfiltered rice wine) category at the 2026 Korea Liquor Awards.
Hard Potion is a makgeolli crafted from top-grade Chucheong rice grown in Gimpo. Bottled as an undiluted original brew, it lets you savor an elegant sweetness and a bold, concentrated flavor profile.
Palpal emphasizes that no artificial sweeteners are used, so the drink showcases a lively pear-like sweetness, a bright, tropical-fruit acidity, and the rice’s natural, refined flavors that linger on the palate.
Apgujeong Makgeolli Won, the signature expression of the brand’s premium makgeolli line, reimagines the humble, everyday image of makgeolli with modern flair and upscale positioning.
By naming the brand after Apgujeong—a stylish Seoul neighborhood—Palpal has built a refined, urban identity for this Korean traditional liquor. The premium, unpasteurized makgeolli is brewed in the traditional way using 100% top-grade Gimpo Geum rice sourced from the Gimpo region.
A Palpal representative said the award will accelerate the company’s push into premium domestic channels and fast-track plans to expand into overseas markets, including Japan.
Now in its 13th year, the Korea Liquor Awards is the country’s premier spirits competition. ChosunBiz has organized the event annually since 2014 to discover standout domestic liquors and promote a healthy drinking culture.
This year, 260 companies entered a total of 1,118 brands, making it the largest domestic spirits competition. Of those entries, 449 brands earned awards.
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